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The Pete Rose Debate

Submitted by Jim Wogan on July 27, 2009 - 5:08pm

I have plenty of reasons to NOT like Pete Rose. 

I am a fan of the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates. Rose caused me much misery during my adolescent years in the 1970s.

At one time, I was also an anti-Rose hardliner. No resinstatement in baseball, and no induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Perhaps it's age, but I have since modified my views. 

With the recent discussion of Rose's possible reinstatement to baseball, I remain firm-- there's no way an admitted gambler should be allowed back in the dugout. No way, not even for baseball's Hit King.

But I do feel Rose is a Hall of Fame player. His gambling did nothing to besmirch his 4256 hits. Rose didn't cheat as a player-- something that should, and likely will, keep suspected steroid users out.

But Rose deserves to be in Cooperstown. Put his banishment on the record-- on his plaque-- but he belongs in the Hall.